Wow, you’re getting so big!
Your hair is really growing out. You’re getting to be such a good artist. You’re so much like your Mama. Everything changes, including you, and in the new book “His Royal Dogness, Guy the Beagle” by Guy the Beagle, Michael Brumm and Camille March, illustrated by EG Keller, it may be a change fit for a prince!
Not long ago, in the backwoods of Kentucky, Guy the Beagle was born. There, he spent his puppyhood exploring and sniffing at things until the day someone found him and took him to a shelter for animals, where he sat for days, even though he’s quite “a catch.” He was then sent to Toronto, Canada, which was where he met his “forever owner, Meghan Markle.”
Oh, how Guy loved Meghan – but he wasn’t the only one. A human named Harry loved her, too, and he asked her to marry him.
You might know Harry. He’s a prince, a real live handsome Prince.
But when thinking about moving to Great Britain, Guy started to worry. What if the Royal Corgis were mean? What if he hated Kensington Palace? What if The Queen didn’t like him?
He couldn’t worry for long; there was a lot to do and so much to learn in London, squirrels to find, and a whole new language to speak. Guy was happy to see that the Royal Corgis were nice, if not a little uppity. He enjoyed wedding preparations and he learned how to get out of taking blame for making messes.
He was “determined to be the perfect royal dog” for everyone at Kensington Palace, but that was going to take a lot of change. Guy didn’t want to ruin the wedding, but being a good boy was hard. What was going to happen?
Then, just before the ceremony, Queen Elizabeth came outside, fretting. Meghan needed a “sprig of myrtle” for her wedding bouquet. It was tradition, and the Queen couldn’t find any. But Guy the (Future) Royal Dog knew exactly what to do…
Head to the bookstore or library and you’ll probably find this story in the children’s section, shelved in with the picture books. Start your search there, even though it also has plenty for adults, too.
In a sea of books about the latest Royal Couple, “His Royal Dogness, Guy the Beagle” stands out as very different. Yes, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appear in it, as does the Queen, but authors Michael Brumm and Camille March aren’t writing about them, specifically; instead, this story is reminiscent of Millie Bush’s book, and those about Socks the Cat. They were largely for children, however, while this book has enough in it to keep an adult entertained. You might even LOL here, because the illustrations by EG Keller are purely delightful.
Your 4-to-7-year-old will like this book, and it’s perfect for Royal Watchers and all dog lovers. If your reader (of any age) is just like that, then “His Royal Dogness, Guy the Beagle” could be a big book.
Terri Schlichenmeyer is the bookworm.
• By TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER, Bookworm Sez
